Civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups in Florida have issued an urgent travel warning aimed at international FIFA fans and U.S. visitors planning to attend 2026 World Cup matches in Miami. The unprecedented advisory, released in early February 2026, warns that heightened cooperation between local police and federal immigration agencies has created a climate in which tourists, lawful residents, and even U.S. citizens face growing risks of detention, interrogation, and racial profiling simply for trying to enjoy the world’s biggest sporting event.
What Prompted the New Travel Warning
The latest advisory was announced outside FIFA’s offices in Miami, where representatives from a broad coalition of civil rights and immigrant organizations sounded the alarm about Florida’s current enforcement environment. Groups involved include the ACLU of Florida, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the American Friends Service Committee, Florida Rising, Family Action Network Movement, and Semillas Colombia, among others. Together, they argue that the state’s recent policies and enforcement practices have fundamentally changed the risk calculus for visitors.
Leaders in the coalition say their warning stems from documented incidents in recent months in which tourists, legal residents, and U.S. citizens have reportedly been detained or questioned by immigration authorities and local law enforcement. Advocates point to a pattern of racial and ethnic profiling, as well as a surge in cooperation agreements that allow local officers to act in concert with federal authorities. In their view, this overlap makes it increasingly difficult for visitors to distinguish between routine policing and actions that could lead to immigration checks or prolonged detention.
While the warning is framed around the upcoming World Cup, organizers emphasize that their concerns reflect broader trends in Florida rather than a single event. The World Cup, they say, functions as a high-profile stress test for a system already under scrutiny for civil rights violations. With seven matches set for Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and tens of thousands of visiting fans expected, groups fear that existing risks will be amplified on a global stage.
Florida’s Enforcement Climate and Civil Rights Concerns
Florida has spent the last several years enacting hardline measures that touch on immigration, policing, and protest, drawing sharp criticism from civil rights organizations nationwide. The NAACP’s formal statewide travel advisory, first issued in 2023, warned that Florida had become openly hostile to Black Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. That broader backdrop is crucial for understanding why the new World Cup–specific warning is resonating well beyond immigrant communities.
Although a key Florida law that sought to criminalize the transport of certain undocumented immigrants into the state has been blocked in federal court, advocacy groups say the damage has already been done. Community surveys and academic studies show elevated levels of fear and psychological distress among immigrants and mixed-status families, many of whom now avoid driving, public events, or contact with authorities whenever possible. For visiting fans unfamiliar with U.S. law, this atmosphere of hypervigilance and confusion can be particularly disorienting.
At the same time, human rights organizations tracking national enforcement trends have flagged Florida, and Miami in particular, as hotspots for immigration arrests. Data analyzed by international watchdogs show that the Miami area has seen tens of thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in recent years, many involving people with no U.S. criminal convictions. Those numbers, critics say, reflect a model of enforcement that prioritizes sweeping operations and visible presence over targeted, safety-focused policing.
What World Cup Fans Could Experience on the Ground
The travel warning focuses heavily on what international visitors might encounter during their World Cup stay. Advocates highlight several risk scenarios: increased questioning at airports and seaports, immigration agents in and around fan zones, and joint operations between local police and federal officers on roadways leading to stadiums and viewing areas. While not every visitor will be stopped, the concern is that the people most likely to draw scrutiny will be those who already face discrimination in other settings.
Fans from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia are believed to be at heightened risk, especially if they speak accented English or carry passports from countries subject to recent visa restrictions or travel bans. Dual nationals and permanent residents may also face questions about their status, even when traveling with valid documents. For many, the fear is not only deportation but also the prospect of being detained, separated from companions, or missing matches while trying to resolve bureaucratic confusion.
Recent World Cup–related events in the United States have added weight to these concerns. At the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, held in part at Hard Rock Stadium, advocacy groups documented a visible presence of federal agents at matches and related festivities, including reports of a party boat in Miami being boarded by Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard officers who questioned attendees about immigration status. According to human rights researchers, some fans elsewhere in the country even sold tickets over fears of encountering immigration enforcement at stadiums.
Hard Rock Stadium, Security Lessons, and Detention Fears
Hard Rock Stadium and its surrounding infrastructure are central to both Florida’s World Cup ambitions and the new travel warning. The venue has a recent track record of high-intensity security operations, particularly following the chaotic scenes surrounding the 2024 Copa America final, when ticketless crowds breached gates and created dangerous overcrowding. In response, authorities have since implemented layers of fencing, multiple security perimeters, and a heavy law enforcement presence for major tournaments.
For safety experts, those changes are intended to prevent crowd crushes and unauthorized entry. For civil rights advocates, however, the same measures raise questions about who controls access and what happens to fans who fall under suspicion within those expanded zones. Multiple checkpoints, they note, mean multiple opportunities for ID checks, database queries, and referrals to federal agencies when questions arise about a person’s status or documentation.
Advocates also worry that the intense focus on security could encourage broad use of surveillance technologies in and around the stadium, such as facial recognition tools, license plate readers, and integrated video networks. While these systems are marketed as neutral safety tools, critics argue that they can reinforce existing patterns of profiling and disproportionately flag people of color or foreigners based on algorithmic biases and flawed watchlists. Fans who have never had problems at borders or airports before may find themselves pulled aside for reasons that are opaque and difficult to challenge in the moment.
The Coalition Behind the Advisory and Their Demands
The travel warning is the product of months of organizing by a loose but growing alliance of civil rights, immigrant justice, labor, and faith-based organizations in Florida and beyond. Core members include the Florida Immigrant Coalition, ACLU of Florida, Rapid Response Alliance for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment, and several grassroots groups with deep ties to Miami-Dade’s immigrant neighborhoods. Many of these organizations have long histories documenting abuses and providing legal support after immigration raids and traffic stops.
Instead of calling for an immediate boycott, the coalition has issued a conditional warning: they are urging fans to reconsider travel plans while leaving open the possibility of broader protest if conditions do not improve before the June 2026 kickoff. Their primary demand is for a clear, binding commitment that federal immigration agencies will not conduct enforcement operations in or around stadiums, official fan zones, and key transportation hubs connected to World Cup events.
The groups also want local and state authorities to formally bar racial profiling, ensure language access for non-English speakers in all interactions with police or security personnel, and create transparent complaint mechanisms for fans who experience mistreatment. So far, they say, those requests have gone largely unanswered. FIFA has touted its global human rights policy and general commitment to non-discrimination, but it has not yet provided detailed assurances tailored to the U.S. context or Miami’s unique enforcement landscape.
How the Warning Fits into Global World Cup Rights Debates
The Florida travel advisory is part of a wider, years-long struggle over human rights at mega sporting events. In the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, global media focused on the treatment of migrant workers and LGBTQ+ fans. With the 2026 tournament shared between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, attention has pivoted to policing, immigration enforcement, and protest rights in host cities from Seattle to Miami.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned FIFA that it cannot treat host-country policies as internal affairs, arguing that the organization’s own statutes and public commitments require active engagement when rights are at risk. In late 2025, international watchdogs and U.S. civil liberties groups jointly pressed FIFA to secure guarantees from American authorities against arbitrary detention, racial profiling, and aggressive immigration enforcement around World Cup venues.
Critics contend that without enforceable agreements, the tournament risks becoming a public relations showcase for governments that are, at the same time, expanding surveillance and narrowing space for dissent. In Florida, where residents have also seen crackdowns on protest and controversial education policies, the World Cup has become a symbolic battleground over whose rights will be prioritized when global attention arrives: the rights of visiting fans and vulnerable communities, or the priorities of security agencies and political leaders.
Practical Safety Advice for Fans Still Planning to Visit
Despite the warning’s stark language, many supporters across the world will still travel to Florida, drawn by the chance to watch their national teams on one of football’s biggest stages. For those fans, civil rights groups have begun sharing practical tips to reduce risk and navigate an environment shaped by both heightened security and aggressive immigration enforcement.
Visitors are strongly urged to carry valid identification and proof of immigration status at all times, whether that means a passport with the correct visa, a green card, or other official documents. Advocates recommend keeping physical and digital copies stored separately in case of loss or theft. Travelers are also encouraged to register their trip with their home country’s consulate before arrival, so that diplomatic officials can more easily intervene if they are detained or subject to prolonged questioning.
Fan groups should discuss safety plans in advance, including designated meeting points if they become separated during police operations, security scares, or transit disruptions. Those who speak limited English might consider carrying written cards explaining their language needs and key contact information. Rights organizations operating hotlines and rapid response teams in South Florida also suggest that visitors familiarize themselves with emergency numbers and local legal aid contacts before attending matches or fan events.
The Takeaway
The urgent travel warning for Florida is a stark reminder that the World Cup’s festive promise does not erase underlying political and social realities in host communities. For Miami and the broader state, it underscores a tension between aggressively marketed tourism and a record of hardline policies that disproportionately impact immigrants, people of color, and dissenting voices. As civil rights groups document more incidents of detention and profiling, they are pushing FIFA and public officials to prove that safety will not come at the expense of basic rights.
For travelers, the advisory is not an instruction to stay home so much as a call to travel with open eyes. Fans weighing whether to attend matches in Florida should pay close attention to evolving guidance from civil rights organizations, their own consulates, and local authorities in the months ahead. Those who do come should prepare carefully, know their rights, and stay connected to reliable information sources on the ground.
Ultimately, the way Florida and FIFA respond to these warnings will shape more than the 2026 tournament. It will send a message about whether the joy of global sport can coexist with robust protections for the people who bring it to life, from the residents who live in host cities to the fans who cross oceans to be part of the moment. The stakes are high, and the world will be watching.
FAQ
Q1: Does the travel warning mean I should cancel my trip to Florida for the World Cup?
Not necessarily. The advisory urges fans to reconsider their plans and to fully understand the risks before traveling. It is meant to inform and warn, not to impose a blanket boycott. Each traveler should weigh their own risk tolerance, immigration status, and ability to navigate a heavily policed environment.
Q2: Who issued the travel warning about Florida and the World Cup?
The warning comes from a coalition of civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups in Florida, including organizations such as the Florida Immigrant Coalition and the ACLU of Florida, joined by local grassroots partners. These groups have long documented enforcement practices and civil rights issues in the state.
Q3: What are the main risks identified for tourists and FIFA fans?
The key risks highlighted include racial and ethnic profiling, immigration checks during routine police encounters, possible detention of tourists and residents, and confusion around cooperation between local police and federal immigration agencies. Fans of color and visitors from certain regions may face a higher likelihood of questioning.
Q4: Are immigration agents expected to be present at stadiums and fan zones?
Advocates say there have already been instances of federal immigration officers appearing near major football events in Miami, and they are pressing FIFA and local authorities to ban such presence at World Cup venues. As of now, there is no binding public agreement guaranteeing that immigration agencies will stay away from stadiums and fan areas.
Q5: How can I reduce my chances of being detained or questioned?
Travelers are advised to carry valid identification and immigration documents at all times, keep copies in separate locations, avoid confrontations, and stay with groups when possible. Knowing basic rights, such as the right to ask for an interpreter and the right to contact your consulate, can also help if you are stopped or questioned.
Q6: Are certain nationalities or groups at greater risk?
Civil rights groups warn that people of color, particularly visitors from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, as well as dual nationals and immigrants with temporary status, are more likely to be profiled. However, recent incidents suggest that even U.S. citizens and lawful residents can be misidentified or swept up in broad enforcement actions.
Q7: What should I do if I witness or experience racial profiling or an abusive stop?
If it is safe to do so, try to note the location, time, and any identifying details about the officers involved. After the incident, you can contact local civil rights or immigrant advocacy groups, legal aid organizations, or your consulate to report what happened and seek support. Avoid interfering physically with police, as this can create additional legal risks.
Q8: Is FIFA doing anything to address these concerns in Florida?
Human rights advocates have called on FIFA to negotiate concrete protections, including limits on immigration enforcement around World Cup sites and clear anti-profiling rules. While FIFA has general human rights commitments, civil society groups say they have not yet seen detailed, enforceable guarantees specific to the U.S. and Florida context.
Q9: How does this advisory relate to earlier warnings about visiting Florida?
The World Cup–focused advisory builds on broader travel warnings previously issued by organizations such as the NAACP, which highlighted hostility toward Black Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals in the state. Together, these notices suggest a pattern of policies and practices that raise concerns for many types of visitors, not only football fans.
Q10: Where can I find help if I run into problems while in Florida?
Before traveling, register with your country’s consulate and note their emergency contact information. Once in Florida, you can reach out to local civil rights groups, immigrant hotlines, or legal aid organizations if you face detention, profiling, or other rights violations. Stadium information desks and official fan services can assist with immediate safety issues, but for legal or immigration matters, specialized advocacy groups and consulates are usually better equipped to help.